Review: When Mockingbirds Sing

When Mockingbirds Sing by Billy Coffey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a copy of When Mockingbirds Sing from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I have only read a few books in the Christian Fiction genre, I tend to find myself shaking my head when the author starts to use the book as a way of pushing their beliefs on the reader, which thankfully this book didn't do. I'm not a religious person, I have always believed that going to church doesn't make you a christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a mechanic. I'll spare you my views on religions as that has nothing to do with the book. I just wanted to mention the above because despite my own beliefs, or non belief as far as religion goes, it had no negative effect on my experience reading this book

I didn't know what genre this book was in as it was the cover that initially drew me and the blurb piqued my interest further. When I then had a quick look at the ratings before requesting it, I noticed the genre and decided I would take a chance despite my previous experiences. I'm really glad that I did.

Leah is a shy withdrawn 9 year old girl with a stutter, she has an imaginary friend she calls The Rainbow Man. The Rainbow Man sings to Leah and she paints the pictures in his songs, pictures that tell of things to come. What ensues is a roller-coaster of belief and disbelief, a town divided, a story of faith, judgement, guilt, and forgiveness. Will the town believe before the storm hits, a storm so big that it may wipe their little town from the map?

I can't praise this book enough, the main character Leah is such a sweet little girl that you can't help but feel for. You just want to shake all the other characters and make them believe, to have them open their hearts to this little girls plight and story.

And poor Barney, he's had such a hard life. His store isn't making money, his wife stuck in a wheelchair from a stroke, he has bills to pay and a wife to care for. Can he believe in the promise of a little girl who tells him everything is going to be fine, he just has to believe.

Leahs dad isn't a religious person, he knows the negative side of religion, he's seen what kind of torture a person will live with because of their beliefs. Can he let go of his doubts for the daughter he loves, can he believe in something he can't see but that his daughter tells him is there?

There are so many great characters in this story. The emotion, descriptions, atmosphere and details in the book bring the town, the people and the story to life. The story seems a little slow to start but before long you are drawn in and find yourself engrossed in the tale and needing to know more.

I thoroughly enjoyed When Mockingbirds Sing and I will definitely be reading more from Billy Coffey.


There is a hint at another story, of something else that happened in the town of Mattingly before this story takes place, which is covered in the next book The Devil Walks in Mattingly.

Also a new book due out soon In the Heart of the Dark Wood, which continues 2 years on from When Mockingbirds Sing and tells the tale of Leahs friend Allie.


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Review: Even When He's Dead: A Short Story

Even When He's Dead: A Short Story by Parker Rimes

My rating: 3 of 5 stars




The Ghost Whisperer meets a dead stoner.

Keera can see dead people, on her way home she comes across a stoner who doesn't realise he's dead. He instead thinks he's having an out of body experience due to smoking some killer weed.

It wasn't perfect but it was different and a nice little short story to read as a filler between books. The story was good,it seemed a little choppy and could have flowed better but it was still a fun read.

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Review: The Hawley Book of the Dead

The Hawley Book of the Dead by @Chrysler Szarlan

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I received a copy of The Hawley Book of the Dead from the publisher in return for an honest review.

"In the tradition of The Night Circus and A Discovery of Witches, The Hawley Book of the Dead is the kind of novel that makes you believe that magic really exists."

As you can see from the statement above taken from the blurb of this book, it's been compared to a Discovery of Witches, a book I enjoyed very much. I don't agree with that at all, the only comparison I would say it has is the fact they are both stories built around a book. It's also a story about witches but there's no spells involved and there's not much magic in it at all, it's more a hint at magic.

This book didn't hold my attention at all, I kept putting it down. I was reading and reading and yet nothing was actually happening. It was like someone had taken a shorter story and fluffed it and dragged it out over way too many pages. It wasn't till 76% that the book even turned up and after that it wasn't until 92% that it felt like something really started to happen to make it interesting.

I was so frustrated at how slow and dragged out this story was, that I wanted to put it down and move onto something else. Only pure determination kept me reading this one to the end.

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Review: Take One With You

Take One With You by Oak Anderson

My rating: 1 of 5 stars




I really liked the idea behind this book but I found the story itself lacking. It felt to me like it just skimmed the surface of what could have been a really good book.

I couldn't connect with the characters, they felt flat and just thrown into the story for a different perspective. I didn't like how the story jumped back and forth between the different point of views, it didn't work for me in this case. Perhaps if each had been a little longer and had more background it would have worked but as it is I just couldn't connect at all. They were repetitive, they all had issues and it started to feel like oh here we go, another one with more issues. I would have loved to have had some regular everyday people doing it for their own reasons, reasons which didn't have a huge pile of issues behind them. At times it seemed confusing as to how each was connected, again I think this was due to lack of a better back story to tie them in.

The plot was what initially drew me to this book and I feel like it was poorly executed, it could have worked for me if everything tied in together a lot more. I had to make a point of finishing rather than enjoying it and want to keep on reading.

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Review: The Witch of Salt and Storm

The Witch of Salt and Storm by Kendall Kulper

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




I received a copy of The Witch of Salt and Storm from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Avery has the gift of reading dreams and she's destined to become the next Roe witch on Prince Island, but before she can take her place and watch over the island and the people who live there, her mother returns and takes her away from everything she's known and the future she's planned.

Trapped and forbidden to return to learn her craft she has a dream of her own, a dream that shows her life is at risk and she has no one to turn to. That is until she meets a young boy, a boy who has dreams of his own and is looking for the help of the Roe witch.

The Witch of Salt and Storm had me hooked, the scenes were full of detail and atmosphere. I could easily picture the island in my mind, the cottage by the sea, the surf, the sounds and atmosphere all just poured off the pages. The characters were complex and full of depth, each having their own stories, superstitions and cultures which pulled them together in ways that made their relationships and interactions so much more intoxicating to read.

The Witch of Salt and Storm will take you on an emotional journey full of highs and lows, happiness and sorrow and have your heart aching and singing all at the same time.


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Review: Between the Lives

Between the Lives by Jessica Shirvington

My rating: 4 of 5 stars





I received a copy of Between the Lives from the publisher in return for an honest review.

Sabine finds herself shifting between two lives every 24 hours, she's done this all her life but all of a sudden the rules have changed.

I loved the idea behind this story, two lives, each completely different, both lived at the same time. Although I did enjoy this one, there were parts that annoyed me but I could easily overlook those. I was impressed with the attention to detail in each world, the two being total opposites of each other with many different layers and characters in both.

I liked the main character Sabine, her character was both full of depth and easy to like, but at the same time little things niggled me. She counted while kissing Dex, she counted a lot. I found myself thinking OK I get it she counts, you can stop with the counting now. There were other little things but I don't want to give spoilers, they didn't ruin the story though as I was completely engrossed throughout. The ending really pulled on the heartstrings so have your tissues at hand!

The concept of living two lives at once opens up all sorts of questions while reading. I found myself thinking about it quite a bit. What would it be like to have a chance of living two completely different lives in such different worlds? Can you really have the best of both worlds? How much does your experience in one life affect your actions in another? If you had to choose, which would you choose? The perfect life where you have everything you could possibly want or need? Or a not so perfect life with someone you love?

I really wish there was a sequel, I would love to know where Sabine goes from here and how her experiences in the book change the way she continues in both her lives.


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Review: The 100 Society

The 100 Society by Carla Spradbery

My rating: 2 of 5 stars




I received a copy of The 100 Society from the publishers in return for an honest review.

I struggled with this one, it kind of held my attention but at the same time it didn't. I found myself frustrated at the characters decisions, I felt like they went from the extreme to totally unbelievable. There were certain events that took place where characters were badly hurt or even killed, their reactions and the fact they didn't get help or say something for fear of getting expelled from school just totally baffled me.

I couldn't connect at all with any of the characters, whether that was because they lacked depth or the believability of their actions I'm not sure. The premise was good but it just didn't work for me at all.

The only reason I kept reading was to find out who was behind the threats and even then I was more skimming the story than reading it.


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Review: The Lost Son

The Lost Son by Matt Shaw

My rating: 4 of 5 stars




I love a good ghost story and The Lost Son didn't disappoint. I always seem to fly through the pages of a Matt Shaw book and it was nice to read something different from his usual horror.

Jason and Emily move into their dream house, they are looking forward to starting their married life together. They are just getting settled in when doors start opening and closing, things are moving on their own and small handprints appear on the window.

What exactly is going on in the new house?

Why did the previous family leave?

Will they learn to live with the strange goings on?

You're going to have to read to find out!


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Review: World's Greatest Dad

World's Greatest Dad by Edward Lorn

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The World’s Greatest Dad is another great short from Edward Lorn.

Edward has managed to squeeze a monster of a tale into a short story. A story of heartbreak, tragedy, horror and retribution with a devil of a twist.

World’s Greatest Dad will strike a chord with every parent, we all have that fear deep down that something will happen to our child. This story captures the fear, grief and dread perfectly and no doubt many a parent after reading this will be keeping a closer eye on their children as a result.


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Review: I Am the Weapon

I Am the Weapon by Allen Zadoff

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of I Am the Weapon from the publisher in return for an honest review.

The Weapon is a 16 year old boy who's a trained assassin, we follow his story while he's on his latest assignment, given to him by The Program. The tension builds slowly as his assignment progresses through twists and turns and conflicted decisions that will have you turning page after page.

This book turned out to be a lot better than I was expecting. It was the cover that first caught my eye and then on reading the blurb I found the premise intriguing. I initially picked it up thinking it would be an ideal book for my son, I almost always read most books myself first before allowing him to read them, it's a habit I find hard to break even though he's old enough now that I really don't need to.

I ended up enjoying the book very much myself and read it in one sitting. The way it's written just grabbed my attention and didn't let go. It's told in a first person POV and is done so well that you actually feel like everything is happening right at the moment of reading. It's fast paced, full of action and hooks you, not letting go till you have turned that last page.


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Review: On Dragonfly Wings: A Skeptic's Journey to Mediumship

On Dragonfly Wings: A Skeptic's Journey to Mediumship by Daniela Norris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars




First reads giveaway win (May 15, 2014 )

I received this book as part of a FirstReads giveaway.

Reading this book reminded me very much of my own journey and experiences. I lost my mum to cancer many years ago and before she died she was looking for something, something not just to comfort her but to help her fight the cancer. Reading On Dragonfly Wings almost echoes the experiences we had together when we started down the new path of what was to eventually become a huge part of our lives.

My mum lost her battle with cancer but because of all the similar experiences we had to those in this book, she touched many more lives and shone so much brighter as a result. Together we went on shaman journeys, learned to use dowsing rods and crystals, we both studied Reiki and became Reiki Masters, learned magnified healing, met our spirit guides and many more different things. We met lots of wonderful people who touched our lives in a way that I will remember forever.

This book has brought back so many memories that I hadn't thought about for a long time, it's made me both smile and shed a tear. Thank you Daniela for sharing your journey, I will be reading this book many times over in the future as it will help in a way to keep those memories closer for me.


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Review: Now You See Me

Now You See Me by Emma Haughton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



First reads giveaway win (May 09, 2014)

I won a copy of Now You See Me through a first reads giveaway.

Now You See Me was a great read. The characters were well developed and full of depth, very easy to care about and become attached to. The main character Hannah was so well written that I felt like I knew her, her emotions and feelings were portrayed really well.

The plot kept me guessing for a huge part of the book, although I did eventually work out what was going on ahead of it being revealed. Even though I had guessed the twists that were in the book, it in no way ruined the enjoyment of reading. The book held my attention the whole way through, I just had to keep turning the pages to discover the outcome. The story flowed really well and I found myself totally immersed.

I would have liked to have read a little more from Danny's point of view, I know the why but I would also have liked to know how.


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Review: Robert the Bruce: King of the Scots

Robert the Bruce: King of the Scots by Michael Penman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of Robert the Bruce: King of the Scots from the publishers in return for an honest review.

I was given this book in e-book format and I found that it wasn't ideal to read on my paperwhite. I couldn't see the images in the book which were referred to while reading. I was able to see them however on my tablet but again it wasn't ideal, it was rather annoying having to scroll back and forth. I would definitely have preferred a hard copy, it would have been a much easier read.

Being a Scot I am proud of my heritage and love to study and learn more of my history, the era of Bruce being one of my favourites. If you are looking for a story, this is not the book for you. If on the other hand you like reading Scottish history, and you want to know how Robert the Bruce helped make Scotland what it is today and not the Hollywood pumped media version that everyone seem to think is truth, then this is the book for you.

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Review: The Cold Cold Sea

The Cold Cold Sea by Linda Huber

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I received a copy of The Cold Cold Sea from the publishers in return for an honest review.

This was such a heart wrenching and terrifying read, especially as a parent myself. You can't watch your kids 24 hours a day and it only takes you taking your eyes off them for a second and the worst can happen.

Olivia disappears, no one knows where or why or what's happened to her. Was she abducted, did she wander off and get lost or did the sea claim her? Children love the beach but the sea is such a dangerous place, taking your attention away from a child for a short time and then realising you can't see them anymore, not knowing where they have gone or what has happened, I can't even begin to imagine how one would cope.

Linda Huber does an excellent job of portraying the grief, fear, pain and terror in this chilling tale about a lost little girl. I was so engrossed in this book that I read it in one sitting. It was a powerful and emotional read that had me turning page after page desperate to know if there was a happy outcome.


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HEROIN IN THE MAGIC NOW - A Novel By Terry M West

 

I was offered a chance to review an ARC of  HEROIN IN THE MAGIC NOW. I am familiar with a few of Terry's other works and have enjoyed them, so I jumped at the chance to read this one.

I purposely avoided reading the reviews that Terry had linked to so I had no idea what the novel was about, I went in blind. Those of you who know me know I am not a fan of stories with zombies in them. It's not that I don't enjoy a good zombie story, I do, I just feel like they are everywhere at the moment and it's all been done several times over. That is certainly not the case with HEROIN IN THE MAGIC NOW.

So what is HEROIN IN THE MAGIC NOW about? Monster porn! Yup you read that correctly. The story revolves around Gary Hack, who is in the business of making pornography, pornography that stars the undead. Vampires, werewolves and zombies all make an appearance in his flicks. You see, Gary lives in a time where the undead are part of society, it's normal to see them out and about on the streets and as a result people have developed different tastes of what floats their boat.

Gary has a drug problem, his life hasn't gone where he'd planned, he's getting low on cash to pay for his habit and he finds himself tasked with the job of making pornography. Just how much have peoples tastes changed? How far is he prepared to go? Who really are the true monsters here?

HEROIN IN THE MAGIC is a dark and disturbing tale and it makes for uncomfortable reading at times, but that's what true horror is all about.  I did at one point put the book down, I won't tell you at which part (no spoilers from me!) but I just had to pick it up again and see where it went next.  It's not all rainbows and unicorns that's for sure, there are parts that will have you thinking "this is so wrong", but you just have to keep reading anyway.  I really enjoyed this read, it's definitely one that will stay with you after finishing.

HEROIN IN THE MAGIC NOW will be available on August 31st


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Review: Cruelty: Episode One-Five

Cruelty: Episode One-Five by Edward Lorn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I have yet to read something by Edward Lorn that I haven't loved and this was no exception. I've had Cruelty Episode One on my kindle for ages and have been holding off on reading it till the series was complete, but I was lucky enough to win a copy of Episode One - Five and it's been shouting read me every time I have opened my kindle and I couldn't resist. Now I gotta wait on the rest! :(

It has everything I love about how Edward tells a story, character depth that has you feeling like you've known the characters forever, dialogue that has you right there feeling part of the conversation and a plot that has you turning page after page.

I'm really looking forwards to seeing where this story ends, I went into the Cruelty series blind, I didn't read the blurbs or reviews as I wanted to just dive in knowing nothing. I'm really glad I made that choice, I had no idea what to expect and as a result I thoroughly enjoyed how the story grew and developed into much more than I was expecting from the cover alone.

I don't want to go into much more in this review as I want to wait till I have read the complete series and revisit the review knowing the whole storyline.

I'm itching to know what's coming next!

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Review: Secrets of the Dead: A Novel of Mummies and Ancient Curses

Secrets of the Dead: A Novel of Mummies and Ancient Curses by Simon Clark

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I received a copy of Secrets of the Dead: A Novel of Mummies and Ancient Curses from the publisher in return for an honest review.

I'm not sure where to start with this review, I enjoyed the story but I felt like something was missing. Don't get me wrong, the characters were for the most part well developed and the setting excellently portrayed, but I feel like there is a lot of things left without explanation.

Had the book been longer and a bit more explanation and back story put into some of the events that took place, and more build up given to the connection between the mummies and the family, I think I would have enjoyed it much more. Although I understand the connection, it felt like the story just skimmed the surface and was rushed, it wasn't really questioned or examined by Jack or Samantha which I found weird considering their profession.

I feel like there was a lot of missed opportunities in the story, the wandering mummies could have been seen by more people and more tension, fear and atmosphere placed into the tale as a result. Johns memories could also have been touched on more to add more depth to his character and story. The events in the first chapter were just shut from his mind for all those years and he didn't seem as affected by the few memories that came back during the story as he should have been.

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Review: ART

ART by Matt Shaw

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I received a free copy of Art through Goodreads when invited to a group read by one of the authors.

Having read a few of Matts books before I knew to expect the extreme, I have to say the level of extremity in Art exceeds the levels of previous ones read so far. Art is a collaboration which brings together the work of Matt Shaw and Michael Bray, it's impressive how well the two different authors have come together to create a seamless tale.

The story itself jumps back and forth between the two main characters, The killer and the detective in charge of solving his horrific crimes. It's disturbing, it's brutal and has plenty of blood, gore and cringe worthy moments. It hooks you from the first page and takes you on a journey that both fascinates and horrifies you at the same time, a tale definitely not for the easily offended.

You'll find yourself turning page after page, being drawn into the story in all it's grisly detail and intensity as it progresses. Just when you think you know where the story is taking you, it throws a huge twist at you that you're in no way expecting, one you'll both love and hate at the same time. An ending that is so disturbing and twisted that you're sure to have it in your mind for some time afterwards.

Art is a must read for all horror lovers out there.


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